Shackle



UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

SOLOMON M. GUSDORF AND DENNIS S. BLUE, OF FREMONT, OHIO.

SHACKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 495,034, dated April 1 1, 1893. Application filial September 22, 1892. Serial No. 446,606. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SOLOMON M. Gusnonn and DENNIs S. BLUE, citizens of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county of Sandusky and State of Ohio, have invented.

in those shackles used in slaughtering and packing houses whereby the animal is caught by the legs and swung in the air preparatory to slaughtering. p

Our object is to construct a more efiicient arrangement for catching and suspending the animal by two legs, usually the hind ones, thereby avoiding breaking-the leg or joint of the animal, which process isvery detrimental tothe value of the hams.

Further objects are reconstruct the jaws I or grippers so that they will more eifectually grasp and hold the animals leg and to arrange them so that they may be spread apart or contracted to suit the size of the animal caught, or the position of its legs.

To these ends our invention consists of certain novel features and'combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our complete arrangement; Fig. 2 a detail View of the means by which the grippers are connected 3 Fig. 3 an enlarged view of one of the grippers, and Fig. 4;, detailed view of a part of the pulley frame.

The reference letters A and B represent a pair of arms each forming one member of the grippers or jaws of the device. These arms are pivotally connected at their upper ends by means of the arrangement shown by Fig. 2. This is efiected by means of the flattened ends A and B each provided with a central hole A through which the locking pivot or pin passes. Formed on one side of the flattened portion A is a pin or stud A which projects outwardly from the flattened portion a distance equal to the thickness thereof and is adapted to pass into the elongated slot B formed in the flattened portion B. The slot B is so curved that it extends in a direction parallel to that of the outer edge of each of the faces A and B. Whenthe flattened portions of the arms A and B are in position they will lie one upon another and are embraced by the end 0 of the pulley frame O. that of the portions A and B and are provided with a central opening or hole 0 corresponding to the holes A in the arms. Through these openings or holes the pin D passes thereby pivotally securing the arms A and B in position, their movements being limited by the pin and slot arrangement just described.

The pulley frame 0, is constructed of two twin sheet metal plates C substantially T- shaped. The arm ends 0 being adapted to hold the pulleys E, E, the use of which will be described hereinafter, the lower end of the body being used for clamping the arms A and B as explained.

The arms A and B are duplicates of each other and a description of one will answer i for both. The lower end F of each arm is bent back and extends parallel with the remaining portion. These two parts of the arm are then bent to form an indentation or concave portion F and outwardly flaring nose F Secured to each section of the arm A or B is a block or facing F forming part of the jaw or gripper. This block is faced with rubber, felt, or with any material which'will cushion the same and prevent injuring the animals leg which is the purpose of the rubber or felt if such material be used.

Pivoted at G between the end of the bent portion F, and the body or remaining portion of the arm A or B, as the case may be, is the second gripper-jaw, or lever G. This lever is in the shape of a reverse curve and is provided with an indentation registering with F in the arms A and B. The free ends of the arms G are curved outwardly to form a nose G Formed integral with or rigidly secured to the arms G, are curved plates or faces G These plates register with the plates or blocks F of the arms A and B, and are likewise covered with cushioning material.

These ends are of a size equal to I pass around the pulleys E, E, and come to a junctureat the swivel H which int-urn is" The upper ends of the arms G,G,- are formed with oval-shaped handles or grasps G by which the; device is held and manipulated as will be hereinafter explained. Theoutwardly curved noses or ends G of the arms G, are

- adapted to passbetween the bent portions of secured to the hook H by means of which r the device may be suspended. e

' a point betweenits ends the spring cushion-r 'Fastened to the curve of the hook H is a singlechain H This chain extends a short distance beyond the hook and has located at ingdevice H, which is designed to ease the shockof the device when it and its lead are suddenly lifted'from the ground; This cushioning devicemay consist ofany suitablearran gement of, springs and connecting that may be thought expedient; To use ourimproved arrangement for catching and suspending animals, usually hogs, theoperator grasps the handlesGr of the arms G,spreading them apart so that the gripper jaws will be opened. He then advances to'the animal and passes the: grippers around its :legs. This is made easy by the daring ends or noses. F and G which whenopen form guides. When this has been done the arms G, G, are contracted and the signal given for the raising of the animal. This is done by pulling on chain H When the chains H, H, tighten it follows that the arms G, G, are drawn tightly inward, which as before explained, securely closes the jaws. The animal may then without difficulty be passed through the various steps preparatory and subsequent to slaughtering.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an animal catching and suspending device, the combination with a pair of grippers, of a chain arranged to close the same, and a cushioning device attached to the chain at a point between its ends, all substantially as described.

2. In an animal catching and suspending device, the combinationof pivoted arms, a pair of levers one of which is fulcrumed on each of the. arms, grippers formed by each pairof arms, and levers and flaring endsor noses formed on the arms and levers and adjacent to the grippers, all substantially asde- 7 I scribed. i p p r r p r 3. In ananimalcatching and suspending device, the combination of twoarms, having each of the faces, a pairof levers one being fulcrumedto each of the arms, and means suspending the device.- it a 4.-In-an animal catchingand suspending pair of arms pivoted theretoso as to have a limited movement toward and from each other, a lever. fnlcrumed to each of the arms,

the; said arms andrlevers forming a pair of grippers, and chains attached to the levers and runningzoverthe pulleys in. the pulley 5. In an animal catching and suspending device, the combination ofa pair of arms having alimited movement toward and from pers are operated and the cnti re arrangement suspended. V

6. In an, animal catching and suspending device the combination of a pair of arms having a limited movement toward and from each other, a gripper attached to each of the arms, a chain by which they are operated and a cushioning device interposed between the gripper and the point from which the chain is suspended.

- flattened faces formed on their-upper ends,a p r I I .pin on one of the said: faces, an elongated slot in the remainingface intowhich the-said pin fits,a pivot passing through openingsin .6

substantially as described for tightening and o device the combination ofa pulley frame a frame by .whichchains the levers areoper ated and theentirearrangementsuspended. c .7

each otherya gripper attached. to each of the i arms and a chain or chains by which the grip ICC 

